Page images
PDF
EPUB

Quakers do not believe, which the Light of Nature and Reafon does not dictate, and which are not neceffary to the outward and civil Welfare of Mankind *.

IV. But it may be further inquired here, May not those Teachers or Publishers of the Civil Laws or the Moral Duties of Natural Religion, which are before allow'd to be paid out of the Civil Lift, i, e. by Taxes on the People; I fay, May not thefe Men take an opportunity when the People are met to hear Civil and Moral Lectures, at the fame time to inftruct the People in the Knowledge of the peculiar Religion of their Governors, and exhort them to comply with the Rites and Ceremonies thereof, and to join with them in their Practice?

V. To this I answer as before, that it does not appear plain to me that Taxes of

any

kind

*I do not by any means here pretend to vindicate the Refufal of Tythes and Dues to the Church in our Nation; for they are to be confider'd as a Civil or National Tax er Incumbrance belonging to every Piece of Land or Houfe bought or rented, and fo appointed by our Laws: and therefore every Man knowingly buys or hires his Land or his Houfe with this Incumbrance fixed on it, and belonging to those whom the State appoints to receive and poffefs it. But in the first fixing or erecting a Civil Government, (of which I am speaking throughout this Effay) one would not chufe. to have fuch Laws made or fuch Taxes or Incumbrances establish'd at first, which would afford any Colour and Occafion for fuch a Refufal or Difobedience in times to comf, as may arife from real Scruples of Confcience,

kind should ever be impofed on the People in order to encourage and maintain the peculiar Ceremonies or Sacrifices, Preachings or Ministrations of any fuppofed reveal❜d Religion beyond what is natural or what is neceffary for the State. Such Taxes may perhaps with as much Juftice be imposed to maintain any other expenfive and capricious Humors of a Prince, which have no relation to the Civil Welfare or to Religion.

And befides, this Impofition of fuch a Tax might give a disgust to some of the People who profefs a very different Religion, and hinder or difcourage them from coming to hear the Laws of the Land and Lectures of Moral Vertue which the State requires to be publish'd and taught at that Time and in that Place, Would not a Christian Subject under a Pagan or Mahometan Prince think it hard to be required to hear Lectures of the Alcoran, and of Mahomet's Follies, or of the Reveries of the Heathen Priefts and Poets, of Mars, Bacchus, Apollo, Diana, &c. from Week to Week inftead of Moral or Civil Laws? and perhaps their Confciences might be much offended at it, and they might be tempted to neglect their Attendance on and Acquaintance with the Civil and Moral Laws,

if

if they are mingled in the fame Lecture with Alcorans and Talmuds, and Homer's Hymns to the Rabble of Heathen Gods.

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

VI. Yet I think this may be allow'd, that at the End of the Moral or Civil Lectures the Magiftrate, when an Affembly is gather'd, may appoint the Lectures or Exercises or Celebrations of his own peculiar Religion to follow them, provided the People have notice of it, and as many as pleafe are permitted to depart without Penalty or Reproach: and provided always the Preacher is not paid out of the publick Money for any thing he does over and above thefe Moral or Civil efe Moral or Civil Lectures, which are needful for the good of the State.

..

VII. And 'tis certain this further Allow ance may be made, viz. that as any rich Man may at his own private Expence or out of his own Property maintain Poets, Philofophers, Singers, Teachers or Priests to preach and practise the Doctrines and Ceremonies of his own peculiar Religion, provided they teach and act nothing inconfiftent with the Welfare of the State; fo a Prince or fupreme Power may maintain Teachers of the Mathematicks, Philofophers, Poets, Stargazers, or Priefts and Preachers of his

Religion

the State fuffer no Detriment, but have a full Allowance made for them.

In the fame manner, we may reason about the Expences employ'd in Buildings, Paintings, Mathematic Sciences or any of his own Curiofities, or for the Support of his own peculiar Religion. If he maintain the neceffary Officers of the State in proper Dignity, and keep up the neceffary Honors of his own Court and Houshold as the Dignity of his Poft requires, he has a liberty to fave more Money by Prudence and Thriftinefs for any lawful Diverfions, or Buildings, or Philofophical Experiments, or the Practice and Propagation of his own Religion, &c. Ifay, he may fave fo much more of his Revenue for fuch Purposes and Practices, than if these Civil Expences were diftinctly settled and limited by diftinct Parts of the Revenue appropriated to each.

X. But if many of the People should be of a different Sect, and should find that the Prince faves and withholds too much Money from the Uses of the State and his publick Honor, and that he expends too much upon the Practice and Propagation of a Religion which they disapprove, 'tis poffible they may grow uneafy and murmur at the Largeness of

K

their

I add also that a Religion thus profeffed and practised and supported by the Beneficence of a Prince or fupreme Powers may be in fome fenfe call'd an Establish'd Religion, because it is fupported by the Rulers above and beyond any other Form of Religion.

VIII. But fuppofe the fupreme and legiflative Powers of any State fhould join the Revenue or Taxes which they raise for the publick Support of Government with that Revenue which they allow the Prince for his private or domeftick Expence and his Royal Equipage, fo that they are not distinguish'd: Has not the Prince then a much larger Power in his hands to promote his own peculiar Religion by Money, whether it be Pagan, Turkish, or Chriftian?

IX. So far as I can see it may be anfwer'd thus. Surely the legislative Powers by mingling the Revenues for the Support of the Government with that of the domeftick Expence and Equipage of the Prince's Family and Court, have put it very much into the Power and Will of the Prince to lay out more or lefs Money yearly for the Maintenance and Honor of his Perfon, his Court and his Family as he shall fee fit; always provided that the Welfare and Honor and Offices of

the

« PreviousContinue »